Staples Connect is a reliable, easy-to-use platform, and the new D-Link hub is undeniably better than the original. If you already own devices that'll work with it, the new hub makes a lot of sense, but if you're starting your smart home from scratch, consider waiting to see what happens with Apple HomeKit and SmartThings 2.0.

As part of Road Trip 2015, CNET visits Mcity, a 32-acre fake city in Michigan designed to test self-driving cars' navigation and communication abilities -- and to keep research from migrating to Silicon Valley.